If the 49ers are going to trade for Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, they will apparently be competitive.
“As far as I understand, about a third of the league called the Lions,” Ilan Rapoport, NFL Media, said on Good Morning Football on Wednesday. “Important interest in Matthew Stafford, [the Lions] must be able to get at least a first turn there, wherever he goes. ‘
Rapoport did not specify whether the 49ers were one of the teams to inquire about Stafford, 32, amid reports that he and the Lions will separate this off-season. Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area, wrote earlier this month that the 49ers are expected to be one of the teams interested in Stafford, who selected Detroit with the No. 1 overall in the 2009 NFL draft.
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Trading for Stafford will probably not require as many attractions or roster players as, for example, the acquisition of Deshaun Watson or Aaron Rodgers, but competing with – give or take – ten other suitors will almost certainly increase the acquisition price.
Peter King of NBC Sports has speculated that the 49ers could trade Jimmy Garoppolo and a second player, but the number of teams reportedly interested in Stafford could mean the 49ers give up the No. 12 pick in this year’s draft as part of an agreement. The 49ers currently have ten draft picks for 2021, including at number 12 and overall 43.
It’s not even Super Bowl week, and Stafford’s saga is probably just underway. If the 49ers finally get the QB, Rapaport’s reporting indicates they would survive many other bidders.
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